for forthcoming uk programmes of jewish or israeli interest

Posts tagged ‘Malia Bouattia’

“Professor Andrew Hussey will hear how no platforming, made official NUS policy in 1974, took its inspiration from the disruptive methods of anti-fascist campaigners in the 1930s.
Hussey will examine whether there has been a shift in recent times, making the current incarnations of ‘no platform’ and ‘safe spaces’ a real danger, as many have suggested, to free speech on University campuses … and the use of ‘safe spaces’ as an excuse to barrack and intimidate speakers through the employment of the ‘heckler’s veto’.”

tuesday 27th september, 7.25-7.30am, on bbc radio 4today (presented by sarah montague and mishal husain ) includes an interview with nus president malia bouattia …

“Do you regret what you said about the University of Birmingham being a Zionist outpost?
I would totally refute, I put out before that I would certainly review my language, and would definitely want to, you know, explain the political context which I was discussing I absolutely was not, you know, was not saying the things that it’s been interpreted as if you will.”

yesterday afternoon (wednesday 28th), 1.21-1.28pm, on bbc radio 4world at one (presented by martha kearney) includes …

“Leading figures in student politics are accusing the NUS President of anti-semitic rhetoric in a letter given exclusively to this programme. In it, three vice-presidents of the NUS, and 41 other student leaders, say ‘Jewish students have not felt safe participating in our national movement because of the actions and rhetoric of leaders of the NUS‘.”

including interviews with …
• richard brooks, nus vice-president of union development
• michael segalov, journalist and former nus executive member (more…)

last saturday morning (14th may), 7.32-7.40am, on bbc radio 4today (presented by justin webb and john humphrys) includes …

“Students at Exeter University voted on Friday to stay in the National Union of Students after those at Newcastle (Thursday) and Lincoln (Monday) voted to leave this week.
The votes have come after many student unions claimed the NUS no longer represented their views. There have also been concerns of anti-Semitism over the new President elect, Malia Bouattia.
Speaking live are • Jack May, English student at the university of Cambridge and founder of ‘NUS: Let Cambridge Decide’ and • National Union of Students vice president Richard Brooks.”

this morning (saturday 23rd), 8.42-8.44am, on bbc radio 4today (presented by justin webb and john humphrys) includes …

“Now let’s have a look at the papers. The controversy over the election of a new leader of the National Union of Students appears to be growing. The Guardian reports that student unions at a string of universities, including Oxford and York, are considering cutting their ties with the national body in protest at past condemnations of Zionism made by Malia Bouattia. She’s rejected claims of anti-semitism, and insisted she opposes all forms of racism. The Times observes that the election of the NUS’s first black female Muslim president might have been welcomed as a step forward for diversity. Instead, it has generated unprecedented discord.”

sunday 28th september 2014, online onlygaza and the palestinian revolution

“In video footage from 2014 obtained by The Telegraph, Ms Bouattia condemned the Israel-Palestine peace process as “strengthening the colonial project”. She added: “To consider that Palestine will be free only by means of fundraising, non-violent protest and the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement is problematic…[These] can be misunderstood as the alternative to resistance by the Palestinian people.”

“Her election has sparked controversy, as she’s been accused of anti-semitic remarks, including calling Birmingham University a Zionist outpost in 2011, and warning of the influence of mainstream Zionsist-led media outlets.”